Rephonic
Artwork for Word In Your Ear
The Beatles
Oasis
Punk Rock
Music Industry
David Bowie
London
Bob Dylan
Taylor Swift
Beach Boys
Nick Drake
Prince
The Rolling Stones
Ringo Starr
Jimi Hendrix
Bruce Springsteen
Elkie Brooks
Music History
Led Zeppelin
Hey Joe
Luck

Mark Ellen and David Hepworth have been talking about and writing about music together and individually for a collective eighty years in magazines like Smash Hits, Mojo and The Word and on radio and TV programmes like "Rock On", "Whistle Test" and VH-1.

Over thirteen years ago, when working on the late magazine The Word, they began producing podcasts. Some listeners have been kind enough to say th... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1016Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music CommentaryMusicMusic History

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Artwork for Word In Your Ear

Latest Episodes

The third instalment of ‘The Island Book of Records’ is out, another sumptuous, elegantly designed, LP-sized chronicle of every album released on this most fabled of labels, in this case between 1971-72. They’re edited by Neil Storey who worked in th... more

A lifelong Beatles obsessive, Gary Kemp bought Epstein’s black leather address book at auction and (with Simon Halfon) researched its 404 names to construct a picture of him, “a 360-degree look” built around musicians, managers, impresarios, hustlers... more

David Holzer was a Lou Reed fan from the moment he saw Walk On The Wild Side on Top Of The Pops but avoided Metal Machine Music for 42 years as it was supposedly unlistenable. He was transfixed when he finally heard it, began playing it daily and fel... more

YouTube

A long-running conversation that shifts from major to minor, back to major and all notes inbetween, this week’s lyrics including …

… can people who write ‘happy’ ever be cool?

… the best drummer who isn’t a drummer?

… when will Oasis buy Man City?... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Jon Savage
Writer and editor renowned for pop culture and music history work
Independent
Episode: Jon Savage loathed the 1976 singles chart so he’s made an album of should-have-been hits
James Ewen
Birthday guest on the episode
Word In Your Ear community
Episode: Stevie Wonder’s masterpiece and the daft, chequered history of Ties In Rock!
Stephen Way
Birthday guest and Patreon supporter
Word In Your Ear Patreon community
Episode: Why can’t brothers in bands ever get along?
Sid Griffin
Leader of The Long Ryders, guest for Second Time Around
The Long Ryders
Episode: Sid Griffin: the Long Ryders leader laughs at the absurdity of teenage life!
Janine Warren
Author of The World Was A Mess But His Hair Was Perfect (Indie Sleaze book)
Author
Episode: An Indie Sleaze special! – up and down with the Strokes, Libertines and Arctic Monkeys
Matthew North
Birthday guest on the episode
Episode: Nicky Hopkins’ hidden genius, the Oasis film and the best songs about rain
Clint Boon
Musician and author, member of Inspiral Carpets
Inspiral Carpets
Episode: Clint Boon saw Manchester lift off twice and auditioned the young Noel Gallagher
Zoë Howe
Author of Typical Girls?
Author/Researcher
Episode: The Slits, a movie in waiting - “Marvel superheroes with their pants on the outside!”
Shawn Colvin
Singer-songwriter and former actor
Episode: Shawn Colvin – songwriter, storyteller, urban cowgirl, singing waitress

Hosts

Mark Ellen
Host of Word In Your Ear; veteran music journalist and broadcaster with long-standing involvement in music culture history.
David Hepworth
Co-host and co-creator; veteran music journalist and author with extensive industry knowledge.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 844 ratings
  • Always a great listen

    ‘Word in your Ear’ is always intriguing & interesting. There’s at least a nugget in each episode, usually several, that will grab your attention. Thanks guys!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dj Ordell
    Australia17 days ago
  • Interruptions

    Let your guests finish their sentences.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Mr Majestik
    United Statesa month ago
  • Smashing pod from the Smash Hits Team

    Podcast Addict
    5
    ericorthwaite
    4 months ago
  • Great podcast

    Like sitting in a pub with some mates chatting about music and arts. We need a book with all the Stackwaddys in it .

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mdjudickck
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • A constant companion

    ‘Keep us in therapy and you can walk the dog at the same time’ goes the ident, well WIYE regularly accompanies me on my late night dog walks and I hope it continues to do so for a long time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pwg69
    United Kingdom4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Appeals to those who want nuanced cultural context rather than quick takes.
Some critique the ad load or occasional digressions, but many still rate the show highly.
Listeners praise the hosts' knowledgeable, relaxed chemistry and storytelling.
Fans value the deep dives into music history and the array of guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why can’t brothers in bands ever get along?
Q: Why do brotherly fallouts in bands tend to be more intense than other feuds?
The speakers attribute it to the blood tie and constant proximity, making it easier to cross lines with family while still feeling justified, resulting in deeper, more personal damage that lingers.
Sid Griffin: the Long Ryders leader laughs at the absurdity of teenage life!
Q: What was the name of the first girlfriend you had and what memory does that evoke?
Griffin recalls Mimi Babcock, a vivid teenage crush, which leads to anecdotes about memory, aging, and the persistence of early loves.
Sid Griffin: the Long Ryders leader laughs at the absurdity of teenage life!
Q: Question number two is, can you, Sid, can you still recite anything that you learned by heart when you were young?
Yes, and Griffin recounts English and literature lines that stuck with him, illustrating how memory and education shaped his musical sensibility.
Natalie Merchant returns playing ‘Mother Goose as an 18th Century feminist’
Q: Will this project remain evergreen, and how scalable is it?
Yes, designed to be evergreen and scalable with continued addition of content, videos, and teaching materials, and partnerships to keep it relevant in classrooms across time.
Natalie Merchant returns playing ‘Mother Goose as an 18th Century feminist’
Q: How did the Mother Goose project start and evolve into the current form?
The project began as a preschool program focused on teaching through rhymes and songs, evolved through a collaboration with educators and a move to multimedia, videos, and orchestral arrangements with the Chicago Symphony, expanding into a broad, freely accessible educational resource.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Word In Your Ear

What is Word In Your Ear about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A conversational deep-dive into music history, culture, and personalities, hosted by two veteran music journalists. Episodes frequently center on influential artists, defining moments in rock and folk history, and behind-the-scenes industry stories. The tone is warmly anecdotal, often blending nostalgia with sharp cultural observations, and guests range from legendary performers to biographers and music historians. A standout trait is the show's long-running, knowledgeable vibe—listeners get seasoned perspectives, well-researched context, and engaging banter that feels like chatting with music-obsessed friends. This mix makes it attractive to listeners who enjoy rich storytelling, historical context, and candid conversations with figures sh... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Word In Your Ear?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Word In Your Ear:

1. Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt
2. EggPod Express
3. Sodajerker On Songwriting
4. Talk ’90s to me
5. The Alexei Sayle Podcast

How many episodes of Word In Your Ear are there?

Word In Your Ear launched 5 years ago and published 1016 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Word In Your Ear?

Recent guests on Word In Your Ear include:

1. Jon Savage
2. James Ewen
3. Stephen Way
4. Sid Griffin
5. Janine Warren
6. Matthew North
7. Clint Boon
8. Zoë Howe

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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